Deal agreed for Flash Musicals' lease of Harrow council property

A charity that faced an uncertain future due to rent owed to the council could have its £72,000 debt cleared.

Flash Musicals, based in Methuen Road, Edgware, owed the money to Harrow Borough Council’s housing revenue account in rent on the council-owned property.

In September last year then cabinet member for major contracts Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar agreed a deal to waive the dept in exchange for services provided by Flash Musicals during the five years of its lease.

But then the plan was re-examined by the council following concerns from councillors from both Labour and Conservative groups.

Last month Harrow council’s cabinet agreed to sign a new lease agreement with the charity which will see the debt cleared.

The charity is Mayor of Harrow Cllr Nana Asante’s chosen charity of the year.

Under Cllr Idaikkadar's decision, money from the council’s general fund would be used to settle the outstanding rent in recognition of services delivered by Flash Musicals over the past five years.

Speaking to the Harrow Times last year Terry Revill, who runs Flash Musicals, said the charity would continue its work in the borough.

Flash Musicals was first established in Barnet in 1997 as a voluntary youth organisation and moved to the site in Methuen Road since 2002.

The charity not only runs theatre groups at the site but also martial arts classes, film nights, an after-school club and dance classes.